EXCLUSIVE Crystal Palace set to launch bombshell challenge to UEFA over contact with Nottingham Forest - over alleged DOUBLE STANDARDS being applied against them

Daily Mail​

8 hours ago

Crystal Palace are expected to demand full disclosure of what they believe are bombshell emails and texts between UEFA and Nottingham Forest – which they believe could 'prove' double standards have been applied over their European demotion.
Eagles officials are of the firm view that correspondence exists between the two potentially showing that Forest, unlike Palace, were allowed to extend the March 1 deadline to comply with UEFA's rules on multi-club ownership.
To widespread outrage, FA Cup winners Palace were last week demoted from the Europa League to the Europa Conference because they had not taken action to solve issues related to former major shareholder John Textor and his ownership of the French club Lyon by March 1.
However, they are convinced that Forest, who have been 'promoted' from the Conference League to take their slot, were given additional time by UEFA.
Mail Sport understands that Palace, who will appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), will now demand UEFA hand over documents between themselves and Forest on the matter. The view would be that such documents, if they exist, should be presented to a CAS panel, and could potentially result in Palace's reinstatement to the Europa League.
Eagles bosses also believe Forest have written to UEFA to express their expectation that Palace should be demoted.
The development comes after it emerged that the European Club Association, which effectively runs European football with UEFA, had emailed its member sides to tell them that the March 1 deadline was not sacrosanct.
In the email, the existence of which was first reported by the Telegraph, the ECA inform their clubs that UEFA would allow until May 31 for those at-risk to resolve any outstanding issues.
Palace believe Hugo Hamon, Head of Finance Strategy and Operations at the ECA, advised those affected on how to set up a 'blind trust' to essentially navigate the rules.
Palace say that the only communication from UEFA was sent to a generic email address, and that no reminders were provided. They are not a member of the ECA and so would not have received the additional guidance from the ECA about the deadline. While Forest are not an ECA member, Olympiakos, who are also owned by Evangelos Marinakis, are.
It is also understood that UEFA sent communication around the deadline, which was brought forward for last season, to the correct email address but that it was not subsequently acted upon.
In late April, beyond the original deadline, Marinakis diluted his control of Forest when it looked by both they and Olympiakos could qualify for the Champions League. As it transpired, such a move was not necessary as Forest faded to end the season in seventh.
Textor's company, Eagle Football Holdings, held a 43 per cent stake in Palace, which at the time was more than any other entity. It also owns Lyon, who also qualified for the Europa League. Rules state that two clubs owned, to a certain threshold of influence, by the same person or entity cannot compete in the same competition. In this instance, because Lyon finished higher in their domestic league than Palace, they took the spot.
They accused UEFA of being 'morally bankrupt' and called on them to overturn their ruling
It is understood that all options, including legal action, remain on the table for Palace, who are currently digesting the written reasons for their demotion which was handed down by UEFA's Club Financial Control Body. CAS have the power to fast-track cases. The draw for the Conference League play-off round, at which stage Palace would enter, is on August 4.
When Textor took his stake in Palace, he did not hold shares in any other club. He has now sold Eagle Football Holdings share in the club to US businessman Woody Johnson. Palace say he was never in a position of influence at Selhurst Park and that no intelligence was shared between Palace and any of the other clubs in the group.
There is a hope that Palace chairman Steve Parish's relationship with UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin may come in handy. Parish flew to UEFA HQ to meet with Ceferin during the Super League crisis when many of Europe's top clubs attempted to set up a breakaway league. Both were united on that subject and Parish has previously expressed his admiration for how Ceferin handled the situation.
The Football Association has written to UEFA to outline its support for Palace's case, while a group of Liberal Democrat MPs have asked culture secretary Lisa Nandy to intervene in what they have branded a 'disgraceful' decision by UEFA.
Earlier this week, hundreds of Palace supporters marched to Selhurst Park in a protest organised by ultras fan group the Holmesdale Fanatics. They called the decision 'a terrible injustice for both our club and the game of football as a whole'.